The University of Pennsylvania Carey Law School’s Visiting Scholar and Visiting Researcher Program is intended to accommodate legal professionals who wish to spend a limited period of time at the Law School pursuing research on a particular topic.
The intellectual lives of the faculty and students at the Law School are enriched by the academic and regional diversity of our visitors, and we invite applications from both domestic and international scholars and practitioners.
This program is designed to accommodate international visitors with a broad range of legal experience and qualifications. Visiting Scholars are generally those with a faculty appointment at their home institution or equivalent professional status (e.g., experienced jurists, government officials, and senior practitioners). Visiting Researchers are typically doctoral degree candidates, younger professionals and others who are at the beginning of a promising legal career.
The integration of visitors into the Penn Carey Law community is a central goal of this program. As a result, Visiting Scholars and Researchers may be invited to attend faculty events, ad hoc workshops, legal studies conferences, and colloquia hosted by groups such as the Institute for Law and Economics.
FAQs
Applications for the Visiting Scholar and Visiting Researcher Program can be submitted at two times during the year:
February 1 to March 31
September 1 to October 31
The link to our online application is accessible only during these submission periods.
To give full consideration to all candidates, Penn Carey Law will review complete applications at the close of each window.
Online application
Curriculum vitae
Research statement (minimum of 1-2 pages; maximum of 4 pages)
Two letters of recommendation
Demonstration of English language ability.
While submission of TOEFL/IELTS scores is not mandatory, if you are not a native English speaker and do not submit scores, you will be asked to describe your English language ability in detail. The minimum English requirements for a J-1 Scholar visa can be found here.
In the absence of a pre-existing relationship with a faculty member, please do not contact faculty members directly; instead, the Law School will match you with an interested faculty member during the application review process. If you are interested in working with a particular faculty member, you may indicate that in your research statement.
As a prospective Visiting Scholar or Researcher at Penn Carey Law, you must have a faculty sponsor to be invited to participate in the program. Faculty sponsors are not expected to be research mentors or advisors, though individual faculty may choose to perform these functions. Instead, faculty sponsors are asked to be available to welcome visitors when they arrive on campus and assist them with introductions to other members of the faculty.
Penn Carey Law offer 3 research periods during the academic year. Visiting Scholars and Researchers can begin their programs on the start date for any of the following research periods:
Fall: September 1 – December 23
Spring: January 10 – April 30
Summer: May 9 – August 31
Most research visits are 4, 8, or 12 months in duration. Should you wish to stay at Penn Carey Law beyond one year, you will need to make a request to renew your status.
The Visiting Fee is billed on a per term basis (Fall, Spring, Summer). For 2024-2025, we are projecting a $2,490 visiting fee plus an additional $412 technology fee per term.
Visiting Scholars and Researchers are provided with a Penn ID; an email account; library access; wireless computer network access; use of Lexis/Westlaw; and access to all general Law School events.
With the instructor’s permission, participants will also be permitted to audit a limited number of classes. As space allows, you may also be able to reserve work space in carrels or small offices.
If seeking a J-1 visa to support your visit, the Law School can request a DS-2019 form on your behalf and support you with the sponsorship documentation to apply for a J-1 visa. Further details on this process can be found through the university’s ISSS Office.
Note: immigration regulations require all foreign visitors to provide documentation of their ability to support themselves financially while in the United States. Recent guidelines called for at least $2,265 per month per visitor, plus an additional $500 per month for an accompanying spouse and $334 per month for an accompanying child.
